Budget 2021 Part 6: Service Level Reductions

The $13.2 million - Service Level Reductions reflect adjustments to the current level of services provided. These reductions were brought forward within the context of Reimagining Services.

The Service level reductions section includes changes in Communications and Engagement, Community and Recreation Facilities, Community Standards and Neighbourhoods, Development Services, Edmonton Transit Service, Fleet and Facility Services, Legal Services, Office of the City Clerk and Parks and Road Services.

Changes that are relevant to the experiences and services that Edmontonians receive are in the following areas.

Community and Recreation Facilities:

  • Eliminate New Years Eve Program and only host fireworks show, eliminate Canada Day program and only host one firework show at Kinsmen, eliminate Millwoods Canada Day Fireworks sow, reduce budget for event attractions and Family Day Civic Precinct programming

  • Discontinue programm support for Central Lions Seniors Association. No longer staffing spray parks and skateboard parks from June-August. Eliminate fall/winter/spring Greenshack programming and YEG Youth Drop in Programs.

  • Closure of outdoor pools from May-June (Borden, Fred, Queen Elizabeth), free admission for 12 and under and reinstate admission fees for over 12. Reduced access to outdoor pools and the reinstatement of fees may impact customer satisfaction with available recreation opportunities

Community Standards and Neighbourhoods

  • Elimination of Edmonton Police Services/Transit Peace Officer (TPO) Transit Safety Initiative. A 24/7/365 presence will remain on transit, at LRT stations, and on buses.

  • Adjustment of programs and services across a number of streams, including fewer peace officers working statutory holidays and reduction of community relations budgets.

  • Elimination of spay and neuter services 

  • Decrease in graffiti program funding and services 

  • Reductions in Transit Peace Officers. This reduction is not anticipated to impact patron safety on transit. 

  • Eliminate the aerial (helicopter) treatment of development sites both within the City of Edmonton and in areas beyond the city boundaries, in surrounding counties and jurisdictions. 

Development Services 

  • Reduction in cannabis resources.  Processing of cannabis applications will be absorbed within existing resources.  

Edmonton Transit Service

  • Reduce service hours from peak and rapid frequency routes in the Bus Network Redesign (BNR) in April 2021. For some people, they will wait an additional 5 minutes for service. The annualized reductions equal 25,059 service hours and over the long term reduce 10 buses from the current fleet size. 

Parks and Road Services:

  • Modify the turf maintenance program through changes to timing, frequency and inventory. - Permanently naturalize over 150ha of the total 238ha of Stormwater Management Facilities (wet ponds and lakes); - Eliminate one full trimming cycle across all inventory; - Condense the turf season by starting mid-May (instead of mid-April) and close at the end of September (instead of end of October); - Condense annual flower watering season by starting first week of June and close at the end of September (instead of end of October).

  • Condense the splash park season to open mid-June and close mid-August. Will reduce water usage by 50%.

  • Reducing annual service levels with respect to alley pothole repairs, slab levelling, oil and gravel road maintenance and culvert repairs. The cracksealing program will be limited to only arterials and collector roads and dust abatement services will only be applied under extreme circumstances. Reductions will capitalize on potential efficiencies and will not result in breach of policy. All safety issues will continue to be addressed and changes will be implemented in an integrated approach with rehabilitation programs. 

Net Impact in 2021 ($000’s): $13,165

Net Impact in 2022 ($000’s): $1,239

Part 1 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget2021part1/

Part 2 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-2-expense-reductions/

Part 3 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-3-facility-closures/

Part 4 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-4-funding-to-partners/

Part 5 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-5-increased-revenue-and-recoveries/

Part 6 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-6-service-level-reductions/

Part 7 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-workforce-strategies/

Part 8 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-8-staffing-changes/

Part 9 https://www.andrewknack.com/budget-2021-part-9-conclusion/

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Budget 2021 Part 7: Workforce Strategies

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Budget 2021 Part 5: Increased Revenue and Recoveries